The Senate has advanced a bipartisan resolution aimed at curbing Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further military actions in Venezuela without explicit approval from Congress.
On Thursday, senators voted 52 to 47 on a procedural motion to move forward with the so-called war powers resolution, with five Republicans breaking rank to join Democrats.
Highlights
- The Senate advanced a bipartisan resolution to limit Trump's military actions in Venezuela without Congress’ approval.
- Five Republicans broke ranks supporting the resolution, including Rand Paul, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Todd Young, and Josh Hawley.
- Trump condemned the vote as unconstitutional and a threat to national security, warning against those senators' re-election.
- The resolution follows Trump's claims of running Venezuela, which concerned senators as overreach.
The measure now moves to full debate in the Senate and, if approved, would then go to the Republican-controlled House and ultimately to Trump’s desk.
The Senate advanced legislation to curb Donald Trump’s powers
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A presidential veto is widely expected if the legislation reaches Trump, and overriding one would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
The five Republican senators who supported advancing the resolution were Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana, and Josh Hawley of Missouri.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said they should never be elected to office again.
“Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America,” he wrote.
“This Vote greatly hampers American Self Defense and National Security, impeding the President’s Authority as Commander in Chief.”
Image credits: Donald J Trump
“In any event, and despite their ‘stupidity,’ the War Powers Act is Unconstitutional, totally violating Article II of the Constitution, as all Presidents, and their Departments of Justice, have determined before me.”
Trump added, “Nevertheless, a more important Senate Vote will be taking place next week on this very subject.”
It comes after the U.S. captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a covert operation and extradited him to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.
Senator Tim Kaine, who led the resolution, said in a statement that Trump’s comments on running Venezuela had prompted the vote.
“Maduro’s arrest is good for the U.S. and Venezuela. If President Trump had left this at his arrest, I wouldn’t have called up this vote,” Kaine said.
“But the President’s claims that the U.S. will run Venezuela for years makes it clear that his plans go way beyond Maduro.”
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Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, added, “This war is clearly illegal because it was launched without the debate and vote by Congress the Constitution requires.
“With today’s vote—after months of congressional leadership refusing to hold a single public hearing about this war—the Senate sends a clear message: we will not accept that.
“Now, the Senate moves closer to actually debating the merits of military action in Venezuela in full view of the American public. Every senator needs to go on the record.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the administration had so far “dodged accountability” over actions in Venezuela and the Caribbean.
‘Donald Trump seems content to drag our country and American families into an endless war with no plan,’ Schumer said
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The U.S. military has been conducting strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September, killing dozens of people.
One of those strikes, on September 2, is currently being probed after War Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered everyone aboard to be killed.
His alleged order came before a double-tap strike, which was allegedly carried out to kill two survivors clinging to wreckage in the water.
“For months, the Trump administration has dodged accountability and obfuscated their intention and plans in the Caribbean and Venezuela. Now Congress has taken a concrete step to stop Trump’s folly and reassert their constitutional authority in foreign conflicts,” Schumer said.
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“Donald Trump seems content to drag our country and American families into an endless war with no plan, no transparency, and nothing but wishful thinking. But today, Democrats and Republicans came together to begin to stop this madness and advance the War Powers Resolution.”
Overnight Friday, following the vote, Trump confirmed on Truth Social that he had canceled a second wave of strikes on Venezuela, which he said was due to the country's cooperation with the U.S.
However, he said that ships positioned in the area would remain in place.
“Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of ‘Seeking Peace.’ This is a very important and smart gesture,” Trump wrote.
“The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure.
“Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes.”
The vote to curb Trump’s use of military power comes amid his renewed interest in acquiring Greenland.
The White House said that the U.S. military is “always an option” to pursue control of the Danish territory, despite Copenhagen and Greenland rejecting any sale or annexation.
Trump has also signaled a tougher stance toward Mexico, including threats to carry out land strikes against Mexican drug cartels and pressing Mexico’s government to allow U.S. military operations to target criminal groups inside its borders.